1. Proposed Rule CMS-1529-P
Title: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2008: Proposed Annual Payment Rate Updates, and Policy Changes; and Proposed Hospital Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Policy Changes; Proposed Rule
Publication Date: 02/01/2007
Description: This proposed rule would update the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs). The proposed payment amounts and factors used to determine the updated Federal rates that are described in this proposed rule were determined based on the LTCH PPS rate year July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The annual update of the long-term care diagnosis-related group (LTC-DRG) classifications and relative weights remains linked to the annual adjustments of the acute care hospital inpatient diagnosis-related group system, and would continue to be effective each October 1. The proposed outlier threshold for July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008, would also be derived from the LTCH PPS rate year calculations. We are also proposing to make policy changes which include proposed revisions to the GME and IME policies. In addition, we are adding a technical amendment correcting the regulations text at Sec. 412.22.
2. Final Rule CMS-1529-F
Title: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2008: Annual Payment Rate Updates, and Policy Changes; and Hospital Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Policy Changes; Final Rule
Publication Date: 05/11/2007
Description: This final rule updates the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs). The final payment amounts and factors used to determine the updated Federal rates that are described in this final rule were determined based on the LTCH PPS rate year July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The annual update of the long-term care diagnosis-related group (LTC-DRG) classifications and relative weights remains linked to the annual adjustments of the acute care hospital inpatient diagnosis-related group system, and continue to be effective each October 1. The final outlier threshold for July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008, is derived from the LTCH PPS rate year calculations. We are also finalizing policy changes which include revisions to the GME and IME policies. In addition, we are adding a technical amendment correcting the regulations text at Sec. 412.22.
3. Notice CMS-1529-N
Title: Medicare Program; Hospital Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Policy Changes; Notice
Publication Date: 07/05/2007
Description: This notice clarifies the availability of certain physician salary proxy data for purposes of the hospital direct and indirect graduate medical education policy adopted in the ``Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2008: Annual Payment Rate Updates, and Policy Changes; and Hospital Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Policy Changes'' final rule that appeared in the May 11, 2007 Federal Register.
4. Correction Notice CMS-1529-CN
Title: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2008: Annual Payment Rate Updates, and Policy Changes; Corrections
Publication Date: 07/05/2007
Description: This document corrects technical errors in the ``Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2008: Annual Payment Rate Updates, and Policy Changes; and Hospital Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Policy Changes; Final Rule'' (hereinafter referred to as the RY 2008 LTCH PPS final rule) that appeared in the May 11, 2007 Federal Register. We are correcting the high cost outlier (HCO) fixed-loss amount that is effective for long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment system (PPS) payments beginning on or after July 1, 2007 from $22,954 to $20,738. The incorrect fixed-loss amount was determined due to a typographical error in the computer programming. We are also correcting figures in Table 9 and Table 11 since the incorrect figures originally published originated from the same typographical error. We are making additional conforming changes to the preamble of the final rule which were necessary as a result of the correction of the fixed-loss amount and the figures in Tables 9 and 11.